The deceased, most of them minors, were laid to rest on Saturday by relatives, religious leaders, and community members. A local source told the media that families conducted the burial rites despite deep sorrow and uncertainty.
Seven victims of last week’s terrorist attack in Southern Kaduna have been buried in Unguwan Rimi village, Kauru Local Government Area, amid grief and renewed fears over the fragile security situation in the region.
The killings occurred last Sunday night when heavily armed assailants stormed the village, shooting sporadically and killing seven people. Several adults managed to escape, eyewitnesses said.
In a related incident on Tuesday, bandits attacked Kokob-Bajaga village in Kajuru Local Government Area, where they killed one person, injured another, and abducted six residents. “The soldiers helped evacuate the corpse, but we remain in fear because our safety is no longer guaranteed,” a community leader lamented.
Kaduna’s Peace Initiative
The attacks happened despite Governor Uba Sani’s recently launched “Kaduna Model,” a peace initiative designed to curb insecurity through dialogue with notorious bandit leaders.
Under the pact, warlords such as Yellow Jambros and Dogo Gide—long accused of mass killings, kidnappings, and extortion—reportedly agreed to lay down arms. Around 200 fighters are said to have surrendered, with some joining government rehabilitation programmes.
The initiative also promised disarmament, reintegration, and rural development, leading to the reopening of major routes like the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway. Authorities hailed these as early signs of progress.
However, critics have raised concerns about the secrecy surrounding the process and the exclusion of victims’ voices. Many community and religious leaders argue that negotiating with armed groups undermines justice and emboldens criminals.
Governor Sani has defended the approach as a “carrot-and-stick” strategy, insisting that lasting peace can only be achieved through both dialogue and firm security action.
For many residents of Southern Kaduna, however, the recent attacks cast doubt on whether the peace pact can truly end the cycle of violence.
